Good and bad sides of York today

HAVING spent the weekend visiting the new out-of-town stores at Monks Cross I cannot help but being impressed.

The shopping facilities are first class, the quality of stores of the highest order, although to be a little bit carping I feel that some covered walkway between stores would have provided the icing on the cake.

Environmentally friendly, newts have been catered for, original hedgerows maintained and solar panels utilised to proved carbon friendly power, truly this is a forward thinking development.

My purpose in writing is to comment on the fact that these new stores have found it possible to recruit 700 new staff from the ranks of the available staff in the city; good news for them and from what I have seen the quality of personnel in the stores is excellent.

It is perhaps, however, a sad reflection upon a city where the manufacturing base is almost lost, empty car parks prevail, food banks thrive, city centre in decline, tourists alienated by a closed river bridge, 20mph limits proliferate, and there appears to be “to let” signs mushrooming where there is claimed to be a shortage of housing.

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Is this democracy in action or the responsibility of a bloody/minded “Politburo”?

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Comments (11)

Some good points at the start of the letter and then it appears the last bit was written by someone else. City centre in decline? Says who? Not the official stats or what I see down Coney St. Empty car parks? Which? Not what I am seeing - have we not just slammed the council for trying to close Union Terr because it was very well used? Tourists alienated by bridge closure? What all of them? Some of them? A large percentage or a smaller one than actually enjoyed the traffic free environment? There 'appears' to be more to let signs, says Mr Wareham? Appears? So not really then? Or maybe? Or maybe not? Can we not resort to delivering things as 'fact' which are clearly just woolly opinions?

Some good points at the start of the letter and then it appears the last bit was written by someone else. City centre in decline? Says who? Not the official stats or what I see down Coney St. Empty car parks? Which? Not what I am seeing - have we not just slammed the council for trying to close Union Terr because it was very well used? Tourists alienated by bridge closure? What all of them? Some of them? A large percentage or a smaller one than actually enjoyed the traffic free environment? There 'appears' to be more to let signs, says Mr Wareham? Appears? So not really then? Or maybe? Or maybe not?
Can we not resort to delivering things as 'fact' which are clearly just woolly opinions?CaroleBaines

Some good points at the start of the letter and then it appears the last bit was written by someone else. City centre in decline? Says who? Not the official stats or what I see down Coney St. Empty car parks? Which? Not what I am seeing - have we not just slammed the council for trying to close Union Terr because it was very well used? Tourists alienated by bridge closure? What all of them? Some of them? A large percentage or a smaller one than actually enjoyed the traffic free environment? There 'appears' to be more to let signs, says Mr Wareham? Appears? So not really then? Or maybe? Or maybe not? Can we not resort to delivering things as 'fact' which are clearly just woolly opinions?

Score: 13

Pinza-C55 says...3:18pm Tue 15 Apr 14

"Environmentally friendly, newts have been catered for, original hedgerows maintained and solar panels utilised to proved carbon friendly power" Ha ha so you bury several acres under thousands of tons of concrete and steel but the newts are catered for so it is "environmentally friendly" ? Did you actually SEE the newts Keith or were they just mentioned in the publicity brochure? "Is this democracy in action or the responsibility of a bloody/minded “Politburo”? " No. A Politburo is associated with communism but this development is propelled by capitalism. It's also hilarious that you visit the complex and then moan about the effect it may have on the city centre! I bet you will have a John Lewis loyalty card before long.

"Environmentally friendly, newts have been catered for, original hedgerows maintained and solar panels utilised to proved carbon friendly power"
Ha ha so you bury several acres under thousands of tons of concrete and steel but the newts are catered for so it is "environmentally friendly" ? Did you actually SEE the newts Keith or were they just mentioned in the publicity brochure?
"Is this democracy in action or the responsibility of a bloody/minded “Politburo”? "
No.
A Politburo is associated with communism but this development is propelled by capitalism.
It's also hilarious that you visit the complex and then moan about the effect it may have on the city centre! I bet you will have a John Lewis loyalty card before long.Pinza-C55

"Environmentally friendly, newts have been catered for, original hedgerows maintained and solar panels utilised to proved carbon friendly power" Ha ha so you bury several acres under thousands of tons of concrete and steel but the newts are catered for so it is "environmentally friendly" ? Did you actually SEE the newts Keith or were they just mentioned in the publicity brochure? "Is this democracy in action or the responsibility of a bloody/minded “Politburo”? " No. A Politburo is associated with communism but this development is propelled by capitalism. It's also hilarious that you visit the complex and then moan about the effect it may have on the city centre! I bet you will have a John Lewis loyalty card before long.

Score: 9

Ichabod76 says...4:04pm Tue 15 Apr 14

CaroleBaines says... have we not just slammed the council for trying to close Union Terr because it was very well used? by "just" do you mean in 2011 ? for less money than the land was worth and with no consultation !

CaroleBaines says...
have we not just slammed the council for trying to close Union Terr because it was very well used?
by "just" do you mean in 2011 ?
for less money than the land was worth and with no consultation !Ichabod76

CaroleBaines says... have we not just slammed the council for trying to close Union Terr because it was very well used? by "just" do you mean in 2011 ? for less money than the land was worth and with no consultation !

Score: -6

York2000 says...4:27pm Tue 15 Apr 14

LibDem or Tory voter playing silly politics.

LibDem or Tory voter playing silly politics.York2000

LibDem or Tory voter playing silly politics.

Score: 5

CaroleBaines says...4:36pm Tue 15 Apr 14

Ichabod76 wrote…

CaroleBaines says... have we not just slammed the council for trying to close Union Terr because it was very well used? by "just" do you mean in 2011 ? for less money than the land was worth and with no consultation !

My goodness, looked it up as I was sure you were wrong but no, 2011 it was. Time flies when you start getting on a bit, it seems!

[quote][p][bold]Ichabod76[/bold] wrote:
CaroleBaines says...
have we not just slammed the council for trying to close Union Terr because it was very well used?
by "just" do you mean in 2011 ?
for less money than the land was worth and with no consultation ![/p][/quote]My goodness, looked it up as I was sure you were wrong but no, 2011 it was. Time flies when you start getting on a bit, it seems!CaroleBaines

Ichabod76 wrote…

CaroleBaines says... have we not just slammed the council for trying to close Union Terr because it was very well used? by "just" do you mean in 2011 ? for less money than the land was worth and with no consultation !

My goodness, looked it up as I was sure you were wrong but no, 2011 it was. Time flies when you start getting on a bit, it seems!

Score: 6

Zetkin says...11:01am Wed 16 Apr 14

There may be "To Let" signs everywhere, but that doesn't mean there is sufficient housing. Nor does it mean that the properties being offered are remotely affordable to those most in need. Families and individuals under threat of eviction from council housing due to Bedroom Tax arrears are unlikely to be able to afford the huge rents being demanded by private landlords. The Politburo to blame for this scandalous state of affairs is not to be found in the Guildhall, but in the Cabinet Room in Downing Street, where the leaderships of both parties have been deliberately undermining social housing for the last four decades.

There may be "To Let" signs everywhere, but that doesn't mean there is sufficient housing. Nor does it mean that the properties being offered are remotely affordable to those most in need.
Families and individuals under threat of eviction from council housing due to Bedroom Tax arrears are unlikely to be able to afford the huge rents being demanded by private landlords.
The Politburo to blame for this scandalous state of affairs is not to be found in the Guildhall, but in the Cabinet Room in Downing Street, where the leaderships of both parties have been deliberately undermining social housing for the last four decades.Zetkin

There may be "To Let" signs everywhere, but that doesn't mean there is sufficient housing. Nor does it mean that the properties being offered are remotely affordable to those most in need. Families and individuals under threat of eviction from council housing due to Bedroom Tax arrears are unlikely to be able to afford the huge rents being demanded by private landlords. The Politburo to blame for this scandalous state of affairs is not to be found in the Guildhall, but in the Cabinet Room in Downing Street, where the leaderships of both parties have been deliberately undermining social housing for the last four decades.

Score: 3

Keith A says...4:25pm Thu 17 Apr 14

Thank you very much for marking my letter Carol, I am sorry you found it as lacking in fact as I found yours packed with condesention. Clearly you disagree with my views but I was of the feeling that the whole idea of "letter to the Press" was to carry opinion rather than political dogma supported by selected statistics Keith Wareham

Thank you very much for marking my letter Carol, I am sorry you found it as lacking in fact as I found yours packed with condesention.
Clearly you disagree with my views but I was of the feeling that the whole idea of "letter to the Press" was to carry opinion rather than political dogma supported by selected statistics
Keith WarehamKeith A

Thank you very much for marking my letter Carol, I am sorry you found it as lacking in fact as I found yours packed with condesention. Clearly you disagree with my views but I was of the feeling that the whole idea of "letter to the Press" was to carry opinion rather than political dogma supported by selected statistics Keith Wareham

Score: 0

Keith A says...7:59pm Thu 17 Apr 14

Sorry Carole forgot the E, but que sera, I hope you didn't see red !

Sorry Carole forgot the E, but que sera, I hope you didn't see red !Keith A

Sorry Carole forgot the E, but que sera, I hope you didn't see red !

Score: -1

Even AndyD says...9:01am Fri 18 Apr 14

Keith A wrote…

Thank you very much for marking my letter Carol, I am sorry you found it as lacking in fact as I found yours packed with condesention. Clearly you disagree with my views but I was of the feeling that the whole idea of "letter to the Press" was to carry opinion rather than political dogma supported by selected statistics Keith Wareham

I think you have lost your cool, sir. Writing a letter into the Press and not being able to deal with people who offer their opinion, whether it be contrary to yours or not, is perhaps a sign that it is not for you. This is a forum, I am sorry my views do not match yours entirely, but that is life sometimes.

[quote][p][bold]Keith A[/bold] wrote:
Thank you very much for marking my letter Carol, I am sorry you found it as lacking in fact as I found yours packed with condesention.
Clearly you disagree with my views but I was of the feeling that the whole idea of "letter to the Press" was to carry opinion rather than political dogma supported by selected statistics
Keith Wareham[/p][/quote]I think you have lost your cool, sir. Writing a letter into the Press and not being able to deal with people who offer their opinion, whether it be contrary to yours or not, is perhaps a sign that it is not for you. This is a forum, I am sorry my views do not match yours entirely, but that is life sometimes.Even AndyD

Keith A wrote…

Thank you very much for marking my letter Carol, I am sorry you found it as lacking in fact as I found yours packed with condesention. Clearly you disagree with my views but I was of the feeling that the whole idea of "letter to the Press" was to carry opinion rather than political dogma supported by selected statistics Keith Wareham

I think you have lost your cool, sir. Writing a letter into the Press and not being able to deal with people who offer their opinion, whether it be contrary to yours or not, is perhaps a sign that it is not for you. This is a forum, I am sorry my views do not match yours entirely, but that is life sometimes.

Score: 1

CaroleBaines says...9:13am Fri 18 Apr 14

Even AndyD wrote…

Keith A wrote…

Thank you very much for marking my letter Carol, I am sorry you found it as lacking in fact as I found yours packed with condesention. Clearly you disagree with my views but I was of the feeling that the whole idea of "letter to the Press" was to carry opinion rather than political dogma supported by selected statistics Keith Wareham

I think you have lost your cool, sir. Writing a letter into the Press and not being able to deal with people who offer their opinion, whether it be contrary to yours or not, is perhaps a sign that it is not for you. This is a forum, I am sorry my views do not match yours entirely, but that is life sometimes.

On better half's laptop. Apologies. See, I am fallible!

[quote][p][bold]Even AndyD[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Keith A[/bold] wrote:
Thank you very much for marking my letter Carol, I am sorry you found it as lacking in fact as I found yours packed with condesention.
Clearly you disagree with my views but I was of the feeling that the whole idea of "letter to the Press" was to carry opinion rather than political dogma supported by selected statistics
Keith Wareham[/p][/quote]I think you have lost your cool, sir. Writing a letter into the Press and not being able to deal with people who offer their opinion, whether it be contrary to yours or not, is perhaps a sign that it is not for you. This is a forum, I am sorry my views do not match yours entirely, but that is life sometimes.[/p][/quote]On better half's laptop. Apologies. See, I am fallible!CaroleBaines

Even AndyD wrote…

Keith A wrote…

Thank you very much for marking my letter Carol, I am sorry you found it as lacking in fact as I found yours packed with condesention. Clearly you disagree with my views but I was of the feeling that the whole idea of "letter to the Press" was to carry opinion rather than political dogma supported by selected statistics Keith Wareham

I think you have lost your cool, sir. Writing a letter into the Press and not being able to deal with people who offer their opinion, whether it be contrary to yours or not, is perhaps a sign that it is not for you. This is a forum, I am sorry my views do not match yours entirely, but that is life sometimes.

On better half's laptop. Apologies. See, I am fallible!

Score: 0

Keith A says...9:37am Fri 18 Apr 14

Thanks Andy D,it is not I who has lost his cool sir, indeed I find the comments made in this media on my letter quite hilarious. Indeed I agree that the columns of the Press should provide a forum but one where diverse views can be expressed without either bullying or intimidation a path which you seem to have chosen.

Thanks Andy D,it is not I who has lost his cool sir, indeed I find the comments made in this media on my letter quite hilarious.
Indeed I agree that the columns of the Press should provide a forum but one where diverse views can be expressed without either bullying or intimidation a path which you seem to have chosen.Keith A

Thanks Andy D,it is not I who has lost his cool sir, indeed I find the comments made in this media on my letter quite hilarious. Indeed I agree that the columns of the Press should provide a forum but one where diverse views can be expressed without either bullying or intimidation a path which you seem to have chosen.

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